Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images
Buzzer Reaction
 Minnesota Timberwolves |
 Los Angeles Clippers |
MVP: DeAndre Jordan tore through the league for most of February, averaging the most points (16.0) and rebounds (17.2) per game that he’s had in a single month in his career. Jordan’s scoring was down in March, though, with back-to-back games of only six points each during the Clippers’ two-game losing streak. Jordan also saw his streak of 15+ rebound games end at ten on Sunday. Jordan got back on track Monday night against the Timberwolves – 20 points and 17 rebounds, on 10-of-11 shooting/dunking from the field. Other than his 22/27 monstrosity at Dallas last month, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better effort from Jordan on the second night of a back-to-back.
That was … a celebration: This was always going to be Ralph Lawler’s night. It would have been appropriate if the Clippers lost; after all, Lawler’s seen plenty of them. But the Clippers did a bang-up job defensively, allowing a season-low 76 points (including a season-low 37 second-half points).
X factor: Jordan has received praise for his outstanding play and durability. Shooting guard J.J. Redick has also been a remarkable performer for the Clippers over the last few weeks. In addition to his career-best shooting from the field and from three, Redick has helped carry the offense in Blake Griffin’s absence. Redick added a game-high 26 points tonight, and he’s averaged 17.9 points per game since returning from missing three games on the Grammy trip.
— Law Murray
Tweets Of The Game
Can you name all these former Clippers who came out for Ralph Lawler Night? pic.twitter.com/uo02AQH3xB
— Arash Markazi (@ArashMarkazi) March 10, 2015
Adreian Payne is the first rookie in the @NBA this season (7th in #Twolves history) to register a 15-point/15-rebound game. #RisingWolves
— MN Timberwolves (@MNTimberwolves) March 10, 2015
Chris Paul just shook Rubio to the ground and only one of CP's legs is working.
— Dan Woike (@DanWoikeSports) March 10, 2015
Check Your Messages
A Look Back
Derek Anderson. Keyon Dooling. Gary Grant. Marques Johnson. Corey Maggette. Lamond Murray. Olden Polynice. Pooh Richardson. Gene Shue. Brian Taylor. John “Hot Plate” Williams.
They were all on hand tonight to celebrate long time Clipper voice Ralph Lawler, a man whose 36 years with the franchise has allowed him to experience just about every moment the team has had to offer. While they aren’t names in the lexicon of many a casual basketball observer, they fill a space in the memories of many long tenured Clippers fans.
Sure, we can put our heads down and debate what the bench’s biggest deficiency is (the answer is: yes). We can shrug our shoulders and sigh over the team’s lack of future assets. But for one night, it was a refreshing change to simply to pick our heads up, look back at this team’s past, and appreciate how unprecedented this current age of Clippers basketball truly is.
The win was pretty nice, too.
– Brandon Tomyoy
